Conveying apparatus for dredging



.5. CZLfiWHUUFNJ AL CONVEYING APPARATUS FOR DREDGING Filed Sept. 20, 1926 Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED $TATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN G. CLAYBOURN AND LEONARD FOOTE, OF PEDRO MIGUEL, CANAL ZONE GONVEYI'NG- APPARATUS FOR DREDGING Application filed September 20, 1926. Serial No. 139,442.

This invention relates to conveying apparatus. It is particularly adapted to apparatus for conveying mixtures of solid and liquid materials from dredges and the like.

L An object of the invention is to provide a conveying means for mixtures of solid and liquid materials which will convey the ma terials for considerable distances.

Another object is to provice a conveying in means which will deliver material an elevation above that at which it is received.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood from the description of one practical embodi- 5 ment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a plan view of the apparatus;

.Fig. :2 is a side elevation, partly in section thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the valve head; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line -il*-ii.

A suction dredge is indicated at 1 which d. *charges water and solid material through a pipe 9.. This pipe includes a cross 3 suspemlcd from pontoons l and discharges on a barge 5, either into a hopper or to the in take of a relay pump 6. The mixture is delivered by this relay pump directly to the intake of a second relay pump 7 carried by the barge, by which it is discharged through a pipe 8 to a dump 9 or the like. The barge 5 together with the pumps thereon constitute one type of a relay pumping station. The pumping apparatus such as for example is shown on the barge 5 may be called a relay pumping assembly.

In the transverse ends of the cross, pre

sure operated valves 10 are mounted. As long as there is greater pressure on the fluid in the pipe than the pressure of the water on the outer side, these valves remain closed, ltnit if a vacuum or lower pressure is created in the pipe than there is outside the pipe, as when the dredge shuts down while the pumps on the barge are running, the valves open to admit water to the pipe. This prevents the pumps on the dredge from running dry. The valves and cross are suspended several feet (in practice about six feet) below the pontoons so that they are well below the surface of the water. i

The valves 10 may be of any desired type, one which has been found sa"sfactory being shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This consists of a closure 19, resembling an imbalanced butterfly valve, carried on trunnions 20 above its center and closing against seats 21. The seats and trunnions are mounted ina tubular inei'nber 22 serving as an extension of the transverse arm of the cross. A very slight preponderance of pressure will actuate this valve and it is therefore very efiicient in op eration. 5

Where more than one relay pumping station is used, the submerged pressure operated relief valves may be inserted between each relay pumping assembly or unit.

A flap check-valve 11 is installed in discharge line 8 and is allowed to float on the line. This prevents water-hammer in the discharge line. Other check-valves 12 and 13 may be installed in the discharge line for safety and to facilitate draining parts of the line.

A slip joint la is provided between the pumps to prevent strain on the pump fastenmgs.

The pumps 6 and 7 are driven by electric 30 motors 15 and 16, respectively, which are connected to any convenient source of current 17. This source of power may be ashore, as shown, or may be carried by the barge or dredge, or the motors may be replaced by any type of prime mover.

A transformer 18 may be carried by the barge where the current is supplied at a volta ge other than that for which the motors were made.

The two pumps act as a twostage unit and will discharge the material to considerable distances and elevations. For instance, material has been conveyed by this apparatus over 10,000 feet while being elevated about 60 feet and has been conveyed over 5,000 feet while being elevated nearly 140 feet.

While we have described one embodiment of our invention, with some particularity,

many changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and we therefore do not limit ourselves to the precise details shown and described, but claim as our invention all embodiments, variations 5 and modifications coming Within the scope of duit adapted to admit water to said, line upon predetermined reduction of pressure there-' in.

2.. A floatingdredging plant including suction dredge, a barge, a relay pump on the barge, aconduit connecting the dredge and barge, a submerged sea valve in said conduit intermediate the dredge and barge opening automatically under vacuum, and a discharge conduit from the barge, to a place of disposal.

3; A floating dredging plant including asuction dredge, a floating relay station remote therefrom, a pontoon between said station and said dredge, a conduit extendingfrom the dredge to the station, a portion of the conduit being suspended beneath said pontoon and provided with a water inlet valve opening automatically upon the re duction of the pressure withinthe conduit substantially less than that oft-he water er:- terior thereto, and a second conduit from the firei-ay station to a point of'disposal.

1'50; a point of disposal.

4:. A dredging apparatus including a suction: dredge, a barge provided with a relay pump, a conduit between the dredge and relay pump, the conduit being supported at anintermediate point by a pontoon and suhmerged beneath the surface of the water at: I

this point, a pressure controlled valve in the submerged portion of the conduit, and a sec-. ond conduit leading from the relay pump- 5. A dredging apparatus comprising three floats, the first supporting a dredge,a con duit therefrom leading ;to the second, the conduit being submerged at the second float 1 and provided where submerged with an automatic sea valve adapted to admit water" upon failure of'pressure 1n the line, a conduit extending from the second-float to lllleytlllld floatand delivering material to a relay pump thereon, and a conduit extending from the relay pump to a point ofdisposal.

( A11 automatic valve for admitting water to a dredge discharge line comprising 1 a. cruciform pipemember having the discharge *line connected to two opposedends there-of,

and having an automatic inlet valve ineach side arm thereof, said inlet valves being normally closed by pressure within the line,

v 4 7. An automatic valve for admitting water; tea dredge discharge llne comprising. a cruci-a,

. pumping unit and form pipe member having the discharge line connected to two opposed ends thereof, and having an automatic inlet valve in each side arm thereof, said inlet valves being normally closed by pressure within the line, all four arms of said cruciform member being of approximately equal diameter.

8. A dredging plant comprising in'combination a dredge, a discharge line, a relay pumping station in said discharge line, a submerged automatic water-intake: in said discharge line between said dredge and said relay station, said intake comprising two automatic valves, on, opposite sides of said discharge line normally closed by pressure within the line,

9. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a pumping unit, a discharge line. for said pumping unit, a relay pumping stationconnected to'said discharge line and a sub merged water inlet relief valve assembly in i said discharge line-between said pumping unit and said relay pumping station,

10. In a dredging apparatus; the combination of a pumping unit, a relay pump, av conduit connecting saidrel-ay pump. and said pumping unit, and a submerged water inlet relief valve assembly in said conduit between said pumping unit and said relay pump. I,

11. In a dredging apparatus; the combina-o tion of a pumping unit,,a conduitconnected to the dischargeside of said pumping unit,a relay pumping assemblyconnected to said conduit, and a submerged water inlet re-lie:t"-v valve assembly in said conduit between said said relay pumping assembly. i v i In testimony whereof we hereunto. aflix our signatures this 31stday of August, I926;

JOHN G. CLAYB'OURN'i LEONARD" F OO'IE. 

